Plumb-bob.



H. A. SCHMIDTKB.

PLUMB BOB. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8. 1 903.

Patented Mar.

Witness weight.

HERMAN A. SOHMLDTKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PLUMB-B OB Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application filed December 8, 1908. Serial No. 466,523.

San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements 111 Plumb- Bobs, of which the l'ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to plumb bobs, and the particular object of the invention is to provide a 111mb bob having a reel contained therein ant on which the plumb line may be wound and from which any length or portion of the line may be unwound as occasion requires, thus preventing the line from becoming snarled or tangled and enabling it to be wound up and inclosed so as to be out of the way when the bob is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of chambered bob and mode of mounting the reel, as well as novel means for winding the line, permitting unwinding of the length of line desired, and locking the line from movement, whereby a simple and efiicicnt plumb bob of this charactor is produced.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the bob. Fig. '2 is a horizontal transverse section thereof. F i. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bob. Fig. 1 is a similar view'of the reelcasing.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, my improved )lumb bob comprises an external cylindrical shell or casing 1 having a closed conical lower end 2 and closed at its it per end b a threaded cap or head 3. Tlie lower ha f of the body of this shell and the conical end 2 inclose a solid filler .1 of lead or other suitable material acting as a plumb The upper portion of the shell forms a chamber receiving a reel casing 5, which reel casing is closed at its upper end by the cap or head 3 and is clamped between the same and the filler 4. The lower end of the casing 5 is closed by an elevated head 6 having adepending flange 7 bearing with the lower edge of the casing against the filler. Arranged within the said casing 5 is a" reel comprising a flanged s )ool 8 rigidly mounted on a hollow shaft 9, which shaft is journaled j at its lower end in a bearing opening 10 in the 1 head 6 and at its upper end in a bearing opening 11 in the head. The said 11 per end of the shaft extends above head 3 an engaged by a milled nut 12 having a line passage 13, and on the shaftbelow said head is a stop col lar or washer 14. The nut and washer coace with the head to prevent endwise movement of the reel, which may be" removed with the head for convenience in substituting a new line for an old one, etc. 7'

tical slot 15 having a tapering or contracted lower end 16, and formed within the adjacent side of the shell is a vertical slot 17 registering with said slot 15. The islot 15 is formed within the inner wall ofan offset portion 18 (Fi 2) of the casing, which offset portion provir es a guide channel 18 for a sliding shifter )lfltO 1.9. This shifter plate is formed at its lower end with an opening 20 and provided at its upper end with a serrated finger piece 21 which projects externally through and slides in the slot 17. The lower edge of the casing and the flange. 7 are cut away to form a guide notch or passage 22 between the lower end of the channel and the space below the head 6.

The line .23 is secured and wound at ono end around the spool 8, thence passes out through the slot 1-5 and opening 20 in the shifter into the channel 18*, thence down through the channel and recess 22 into the space between the filler l and head (i, and Finally upward through the hollow shaft 9 where its free end is exposed. T he cord may be locked from movement when wound or unwound to any extent by sliding the shifter the cord into the contracted lower end 11-; of slot 15. To wind up the cord, it is simply j necessary to release it from the notch 16 and turn the reel clockwise by means of the nut 12. To unwind the wound cord the shifter is adjusted to release the same from notch 16, and then the free end of the cord is-graspod and the line pulled out, whereby any desired number of feet of line maybe witlulrawn for use in suspending the bob. It will, of course, be understood that as the line is wound or unwound the shifter 19 reciprorates, thus causing the line to wind or um wind equally on or from the reel.

3 From the foregoing description, taken in Formed in one side of the casing 1s a veri and out througl'r the passage 13 in nut 12,

downward to force the adjacent portion of connection with the drawing, the construc ti'rmtricl mode of use ofmy improved plumb hob will be clearly understood, and it will be seen that the invention rovides a bob wherein the line may be inc osed when not in use andfrom which any ortion of it may be withdrawn for use Wit tout liability of tangling the line, and, further, that the construction disclosed provides for the manipulation of the line in an-easy and convenient manner and its secure retention in adjusted position; By simply detaching the cap 3 it is obvious that t e reel and line may be removed'and a new line readily substituted for an old one whenever occasion requires.

Having thus fully described the invent ion.

what is claimed as new is 1. A plumb bob provided with a chamber, guiding means therein-including a reciprocating shifter, a reel having a hollow shaft projecting exteriorly at one end and provided withan operating device, and a line connected at one end with the reel and extending therefrom to the exterior through said shaft, said line engaging said guiding means and being held thereby in the form of a loop between the reel and shaft, said loop being movable with the shifter.

2. A plumb bob having a chamber, a reel therein comprising a spool having a hollow 3b shaft projecting exteriorlyat one end, aline connected with the-reel and extending exteriorly through said hollow shaft, and ui(l' ing means for the line between the spoo and inner end of the shaft.

3. A plumb bob provided with a chamber" having a guide slot provided with. a contracted portion, a reel in said chamber cornprisinga spool having a hollow shaft projecting exteriorly at its upper end, a line extending from the spool through said slot and adapted to be locked in the contracted. portion thereof, said line extending from the slot to the exterior, through the hollow shaft, guiding means for holding that portion of the line between the slotand shaft in the form of a loop, and reciprocating shifter having a guide opening for passage of the looped portion ol the line, said shifter being movable in line with said slot.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof two Witnesses. I

, HERMAN A. SCHMIDTKII.

\Vitnesses:

R. L. SHEPHERD, W. H. Gnnmnmmx. 

